>> if republicans do not agree to that, is the administration prepared to go off the fiscal cliff? >> absolutely. if there is no agreement that doesn't involve rates going up. >> gretchen: is that what the discussion is about? if you're watching the main stream media, it's about tax, tax, tax, tax. why are we taxing so much? because we really do have a spending problem. >> steve: or a deep hole. >> brian: i thought it was interesting. does geithner ever speak and make you feel better? all he does is -- i have a sense that it's something terrible is about to happen. having said that and this communication ability aside, i'm stunned to see him playing politics. he's flat out playing politics. he added if the president doesn't get his own way and get the power action undependentsed power to raise the debt limit and take it away from congress, that's also a nonstarter. since when is getting into that and saying if we don't raise taxes on the top 2%, we're never going to have a deal. really? doesn't he know the math? we all know the math. this is like throwing a nickel into the ocean. $